Toolkits
Cost Implemented Plan (CIP)
Step 1 Obtain Buy-In and Secure Resources for CIP Development
Embarking on the CIP journey is a significant commitment. This first step sets the foundation for success by obtaining crucial buy-in and securing the necessary resources to develop the Costed Implementation Plan (CIP).
Why Step 1 Matters
Achieving buy-in from decision-makers is pivotal. It ensures that the human and financial resources required for CIP development are available and committed. This step involves forming a dedicated CIP Task Force, which provides oversight, guidance, and expertise throughout the CIP process.
How to Navigate Step 1
- Arrive at a Decision:
- Make an informed choice on whether to engage in the CIP process.
- Establish a CIP Task Force:
- Form a dedicated team to oversee, guide, and provide expertise.
- Secure Financial and Human Resources:
- Assess if there’s a gap in resources required for CIP development.
The CIP accomplished what had never happened before. When this task force started happening, it was something very unique. We had never seen the minister, director general, and secretaries sitting at the table before. Discussing the quality of data.
Dr. Tabinda Sarosh
Country Director, Pathfinder, Pakistan
Step 2 Prepare for CIP Development
Getting ready for the journey ahead. Step 2 lays the groundwork for a seamless Costed Implementation Plan (CIP) development process involving key stakeholders and actions spread over time.
Why Preparation Matters
The CIP process is a collaborative effort requiring careful planning. A well-defined scope of work ensures that everyone involved understands their roles, responsibilities, and the journey ahead. Establishing mutual agreements and realistic timelines is crucial for delivering a high-quality end product.
Navigating Step 2
- Form a CIP Technical Support Team (TST):
- Assemble a dedicated team to provide technical support throughout the CIP development process.
- Define the CIP Development Process and Timeline:
- Outline a clear scope of work that defines roles, responsibilities, and the overall process.
- Identify Key Family Planning Stakeholders:
- Recognize and engage with essential stakeholders crucial to the success of the CIP.
- Kick-off the CIP Development Process:
- Initiate the CIP development process with a structured kick-off to align all stakeholders.
Step 3 Conduct a Situational Analysis
Step 3 is a critical juncture where a comprehensive situational analysis sets the stage for informed decision-making. This analysis involves systematically collecting data to understand the past and current status of a country’s family planning program, identifying key problems, and uncovering root causes.
The Significance of Step 3
A situational analysis is more than data collection; it’s a deep dive into understanding the intricacies of a country’s family planning program. It assesses program elements using a voluntary human rights lens, offering quantitative and qualitative insights derived from national policies, program documents, and data from ministries, implementing partners, and donors.
What the Situational Analysis Involves
- Gathering Information:
- Collect data on the current family planning context, programs, and available resources.
- Conducting Review and Synthesis:
- Analyze national policy and program documents, combining quantitative and qualitative data.
- Prioritizing Issues and Analyzing Root Causes:
- Identify key challenges, prioritize them, and delve into the root causes behind these challenges
In Burkina Faso, the roadmap began with a review of the previously written CIP. We made a summary of the state of the priority challenges… We had a total of 19 challenges, of which it was estimated that 13 were reduced and six persisted. That was the starting point of the new process.
Simplice Toe
PROMACO, Burkina Faso
Step 4 Formulate a Technical Strategy and Implementation Plan
Step 4 takes you to the heart of your Costed Implementation Plan (CIP), where you define your family planning goals and strategic priorities and set the course for execution. Let’s delve into the essentials.
The Blueprint for Technical Strategy
- Family Planning Goal(s):
-
- Clarify or refine the overarching goal driving your CIP’s focus.
- Result Areas and Strategic Priorities:
-
- Define key result areas and strategic priorities based on a thorough situational analysis.
- Evidence-Based Interventions:
-
- Feature priority evidence-based interventions to drive impactful outcomes.
Execution Roadmap: Implementation Plan
- Time-Phased Activities and Sub-Activities:
- Detail activities and sub-activities over time for seamless execution.
- Targets and Indicators:
- Set measurable targets and indicators to gauge progress during execution.
Navigating Step 4 Activities
- Set or Refine the Family Planning Goal:
- Clarify and articulate the overarching goal that drives your family planning efforts.
- Define Results and Prioritize Outcomes and Interventions:
- Identify key result areas, prioritize outcomes, and outline impactful interventions.
- Validate the Results Chain and Strategic Priorities:
- Ensure the alignment and validation of your results chain and strategic priorities.
- Select Indicators and Estimate Targets:
- Identify key indicators and set realistic targets to measure progress.
- Develop an Implementation Plan with Activities and Sub-Activities:
- Create a comprehensive implementation plan outlining detailed activities and sub-activities.
- Refine and Validate the Technical Strategy:
- Continuously refine and validate your technical strategy for precision.
- Align with Subnational Level (Optional):
- Consider aligning strategies with subnational levels for broader impact.
- Estimate Impact (Optional):
- Optionally estimate the impact of your strategy for a clearer perspective.
Tools for Step 4: Your Guides to Success
Step 5 Estimate Costs & Resource Gap and Iterate Technical Strategy
Developing a strategic plan is only half the journey—estimating costs and understanding resource gaps are essential to ensure successful implementation. Step 5 guides you through the critical process of cost estimation, gap analysis, and iterative refinement of the technical strategy.
Why Step 5 Matters
A strategic plan’s success hinges on realistic cost considerations. This step delves into the critical aspect of Costed Implementation Plan (CIP) implementation costs. It involves an iterative process where the technical support team adjusts and prioritizes activities based on estimated implementation costs. The goal is to align the CIP with actual funding streams and program needs.
How to Navigate Step 5
- Estimate Common Unit Costs:
- Break down costs into standard units for accurate estimation.
- Input Quantity of Units:
- Define the number of units required to achieve plan objectives.
- Review and Validate Cost Estimates:
- Scrutinize and validate the estimated costs for accuracy.
- Conduct CIP Financial Gap Analysis:
- Assess the financial gap between detailed CIP activities and annual funding commitments.
- Realign Technical Strategy:
- Adjust the technical strategy to ensure costs align with available resources.
- Revise and Validate Final Cost and Resource Gap:
- Continuously update and validate the costing tool during regular reviews.
CIPs must reflect actual funding streams and programming from government and donors, and we must also develop budget scenarios to be able to respond to budget shortages.
Modibo Maiga
Palladium, HP+, West Africa
Step 6 Finalize Institutional Arrangements for Execution
As you progress through the Costed Implementation Plan (CIP) journey, Step 6 takes center stage. Here, we focus on finalizing institutional arrangements crucial for successfully executing your CIP.
Why Step 6 Matters
Institutional arrangements are the backbone of CIP execution. They define the roles, responsibilities, and coordination mechanisms for seamless implementation. These arrangements ensure effective coordination, accountability, and stewardship throughout the execution phase, developed in parallel with the technical strategy (Step 4).
Navigating Step 6
- Define Stewardship and Accountability Structure:
- Clearly outline the roles and responsibilities of various parties involved in CIP execution.
- Define Coordination Mechanisms:
- Establish mechanisms for effective coordination among stakeholders.
- Ensure that communication channels are clear and responsibilities are well-defined.
- Identify Capacity Development and Implementation Support Needs:
- Assess and identify any gaps in capacity among stakeholders.
- Outline needs for additional resources and capacity development for a smooth execution process.
In Kenya, we intend to have a national launch with 50-60 people, then proceed to the CIP at the county level. We have created a popular version (only four pages), which will be posted to social media and other platforms as part of our dissemination.
Dr. Geoffrey Okumo
Options Consultancy Services, Kenya
Step 7 Secure Final Approval and Launch the CIP
As the CIP document reaches completion, Step 7 marks the pivotal moment for securing final approval and initiating a powerful launch. This step ensures that the comprehensive plan is endorsed and communicated effectively to stakeholders.
Why Step 7 is Crucial
Completing the CIP document is a significant achievement, but its impact lies in the execution. Securing final approval is the gateway to turning plans into action. The launch event serves as a platform to reconnect contributors, educate implementers on the plan’s components, highlight the positive impact of successful implementation, and emphasize their crucial role in ensuring success.
How to Navigate Step 7
- Review and Approve the CIP:
- The government and relevant stakeholders meticulously review and approve the completed CIP document.
- Ensure all aspects align with family planning goals.
- Develop a Dissemination Plan and Materials:
- Strategize how the plan will be shared with stakeholders and the public.
- Create educational materials to enhance understanding.
- Produce and Print the Final Document:
- Prepare the final version of the CIP document for distribution.
- Utilize high-quality printing to ensure clarity and professionalism.
- Hold an Official Launch Event and Dissemination Activities:
- Organize a public launch event to engage contributors and educate implementers.
- Emphasize the positive impact of successful implementation and their vital role.
- Raise awareness about remaining funding gaps and seek commitments from partners.
Step 8 Provide Effective Stewardship for CIP Execution
While having a Costed Implementation Plan (CIP) is a significant milestone, ensuring its successful execution requires collaborative efforts from diverse partners. Effective stewardship involves proper management, delegation of responsibilities, and a seamless transition from planning to action.
Why Step 8 Matters
The existence of a CIP doesn’t guarantee success; its execution is a true testament to its impact. This step provides guidance, approaches, and tools to facilitate a smooth transition from planning to action, ensuring that the CIP translates into tangible results.
How to Navigate Step 8
- Implement Effective Coordination Mechanisms:
- Establish and manage coordination mechanisms for seamless collaboration among stakeholders.
- Lead and Manage the Execution Process:
- Take charge of the execution process, ensuring tasks are delegated, monitored, and executed.
- Integrate CIP into Annual Workplanning:
- Ensure the CIP is seamlessly integrated into existing annual work plans.
- Develop joint work plans if necessary for enhanced integration.
- Engage at the Sub-national Level:
- Facilitate execution by engaging at the sub-national level.
The CIP is not complete once launched. Technical assistance is needed after the CIP launch when implementation happens. We need strong and reliable management systems. The CIP needs to be disseminated; sub-national planning and implementation are vital, especially in decentralized countries.
Modibo Maiga
Palladium, HP+, West Africa
Step 9 Design and implement Performance Monitoring Mechanisms
At the heart of successful CIP execution lies Step 9—where governments and stakeholders engage in continuous performance monitoring. This strategic process ensures effective leadership, optimal results, and accountability for achieving family planning goals.
Why Step 9 Matters
Performance monitoring is more than just data collection; it’s a dynamic process vital for informed decision-making, resource mobilization, and accountability. This step guides the establishment of robust mechanisms to monitor CIP performance, utilizing dashboards for data collection, management, and visualization. Regular reviews enhance implementation performance, align with global commitments, and address challenges head-on.
How to Navigate Step 9
- Set up Performance Monitoring Tools and Processes:
- Lay the foundation for effective performance monitoring mechanisms.
- Regularly Collect Performance Data:
- Implement consistent data collection processes to track progress.
- Hold Regular Performance Reviews:
- Conduct systematic reviews to assess implementation performance.
- Review and Revise (Activity 9D):
- Regularly review performance data and revise strategies accordingly.
- Conduct a CIP End-Line Review (Activity 9E):
- Evaluate the overall CIP execution through a comprehensive end-line review.
Nigeria’s national CIP was called the National Family Planning Blueprint. We hold strategy meetings every month with the government leaders on the family planning plan; we call it Blueprint technical meeting. We look at what is happening in the country, what is happening to implementing the Blueprint, where the issues are, and how we mitigate if there are challenges. How do we move forward, or if there is any new thing coming, how do we get more aligned into the more coordinated structure?
Sada Danmusa
Development Outcomes and Support Center, Nigeria
Tools for Step 9
Step 10 Conduct Continuous Resource Mobilization
Resource mobilization is the lifeblood of successful Costed Implementation Plan (CIP) implementation. Step 10 focuses on sustaining momentum by ensuring ongoing resource mobilization, enabling the comprehensive execution of the CIP.
Why Step 10 Matters
Full implementation of a CIP demands substantial resources. This step is dedicated to developing a sustainable and diversified funding strategy, ensuring the CIP can be executed as planned. While resource mobilization approaches are context-specific, this section provides successful examples adaptable to different contexts.
How to Navigate Step 10
- Mobilize Resources for the CIP:
- Develop a robust strategy for mobilizing resources to support CIP implementation.
- Conduct Family Planning Budget Tracking:
- Establish a system to track family planning budgets, ensuring financial accountability.
- Regularly Update Financial Gap Analysis:
- Keep the financial gap analysis up-to-date to identify and address resource shortfalls.
- Ensure ongoing financial transparency with regular updates.
- Conduct Ongoing Advocacy:
- Advocate for sustained support and resources for family planning initiatives.
